A Southland Invasion for the WinStar Derby

Locally based horses and jockeys will make up half of the field today in the $500,000 WinStar Derby at Sunland Park in New Mexico.

Corey Nakatani, Felipe Martinez, Patrick Valenzuela and Jon Court all have mounts in the 1 1/8 -mile race for 3-year-olds.

Court will be aboard Southern Africa, a son of Cape Town who already has a victory at Sunland.

On Feb. 27, Southern Africa, who is owned by Al and Sandee Kirkwood and trained by Mike Puhich, overcame trouble to win the $104,000 Borderland Derby by 1 1/4 lengths.

It was the third victory in seven starts for the dark bay, who began his career by winning two of three on the turf in England.

Nakatani will be on Thor’s Echo, who set the pace before settling for second in the Borderland.

Martinez will ride Dover Dere, third in the Borderland, for trainer Doug O’Neill, and Valenzuela will be aboard Sort It Out, who flopped in the Louisiana Derby in his first start for trainer Bob Baffert after being privately purchased by Preferred Pals Stable and Bob and Janice McNair’s Stonerside Stable.

Before the Derby, Valenzuela will ride Pegasus Rose for Baffert and owner B. Wayne Hughes in the $250,000 WinStar/Sunland Park Oaks at 1 1/16 miles

Race of the day: Supah Blitz, last in the Santa Anita Handicap on March 5, will add blinkers for the $100,000 Tokyo City Handicap at Santa Anita.

Victor Espinoza has the mount on the 5-year-old Mecke horse in the Grade III at 1 1/8 miles. Supah Blitz is trained by O’Neill, who is also scheduled to start Jake Skate in the field of six.

One for the road: Full Flow looks tough right back in the 13th at Gulfstream Park as he remains at the same level after an easy victory on Feb. 23.

The 8-year-old Eagle Eyed gelding has won three of eight over the local turf and could be a single in the final leg of the Magna 5. Javier Castellano will ride in the $50,000 claimer at 1 1/8 miles.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Inspiring and Leave Me Alone in the fourth, Stormbayoubabe and Can I Call You Dad in the fifth and Soldier’s Kiss, Membership Coffee and Del Mar Miss in the sixth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 2/182. Money: Previous day/meet total: $8.80/$981.60. Total money bet: $1,216.